Work

Differentiation, self–other representations, and rupture–repair processes: Predicting child maltreatment risk.

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: This set of studies was designed to examine the relational underpinnings of child abuse potential in a sample of 51 urban families. In Study 1, lower maternal differentiation of self-most notably, greater emotional reactivity and greater emotional cutoff-along with self-attacking introjects, together distinguished mothers at higher risk (vs. lower risk) for child maltreatment (CM). In Study 2, patterns of interactive rupture and repair were examined in a subsample of n = 15 families and found to vary as a function of risk for CM. Specifically, SASB coding (Benjamin, 1996, 2003) of mother-children interactions during two moderately stressful lab tasks revealed higher rates of interactive mismatch and mother-initiated ruptures, and fewer successful repairs in families at higher-risk-for-CM, relative to families at lower-risk. Implications for counseling and directions for further translational research are discussed.

Source: Journal of Counseling Psychology

DOI: 10.1037/a0020030

Authors: Elizabeth A. Skowron, JoEllen M. Kozlowski, Aaron L. Pincus

Institution: Pennsylvania State University

Language: English

Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute for Health and Care Research, Administration for Children and Families, National Institute of Mental Health